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A study of the performance of risk and vulnerability assessments by Swedish Public Agencies

Abrahamsson, Marcus LU ; Eriksson, Kerstin LU ; Hassel, Henrik LU ; Petersen, Kurt LU and Tehler, Henrik LU (2012) 4th International Disaster and Risk Conference: Integrative Risk Management in a Changing World - Pathways to a Resilient Society, IDRC Davos 2012 p.15-18
Abstract

Risk and vulnerability assessments (RVA) are vital components of the work conducted by public agencies at different levels, as part of the processes for governing and managing risks in the society. In Sweden, public agencies at all levels are required by legislation to perform risk and vulnerability assessments within their respective area of responsibility. The present paper presents a study of how Swedish municipalities, county administrative boards and national authorities work with RVAs, with a special focus on three aspects of such assessments that are highlighted in the legislation: vital societal functions, critical dependencies, and capability assessment. The main data collection technique was semi-structured interviews and a... (More)

Risk and vulnerability assessments (RVA) are vital components of the work conducted by public agencies at different levels, as part of the processes for governing and managing risks in the society. In Sweden, public agencies at all levels are required by legislation to perform risk and vulnerability assessments within their respective area of responsibility. The present paper presents a study of how Swedish municipalities, county administrative boards and national authorities work with RVAs, with a special focus on three aspects of such assessments that are highlighted in the legislation: vital societal functions, critical dependencies, and capability assessment. The main data collection technique was semi-structured interviews and a total of 25 actors were included and interviewed. The goal was to achieve a good representation of the different actors that perform RVAs. Thus 5 national authorities, 5 county administrative boards, and 15 municipalities were chosen in order to obtain a representative functional distribution (in terms of national authorities responsible for different sectors), geographic distribution as well as size distribution. The study shows that there is rather large variety of approaches, perspectives and views adopted by different actors, all with different advantages and drawbacks. It is argued that the findings of the study can be used to improve the RVA-practices of public authorities.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Capability assessments, Critical dependencies, Risk and vulnerability analysis, Vital societal functions
host publication
Proceedings of the 4th International Disaster and Risk Conference: Integrative Risk Management in a Changing World - Pathways to a Resilient Society, IDRC Davos 2012
pages
4 pages
publisher
Global Risk Forum (GRF)
conference name
4th International Disaster and Risk Conference: Integrative Risk Management in a Changing World - Pathways to a Resilient Society, IDRC Davos 2012
conference location
Davos, Switzerland
conference dates
2012-08-26 - 2012-08-30
external identifiers
  • scopus:84924981775
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
677f7d48-699d-42eb-8556-ea18039a8509
date added to LUP
2016-04-11 12:38:15
date last changed
2022-01-30 02:28:19
@inproceedings{677f7d48-699d-42eb-8556-ea18039a8509,
  abstract     = {{<p>Risk and vulnerability assessments (RVA) are vital components of the work conducted by public agencies at different levels, as part of the processes for governing and managing risks in the society. In Sweden, public agencies at all levels are required by legislation to perform risk and vulnerability assessments within their respective area of responsibility. The present paper presents a study of how Swedish municipalities, county administrative boards and national authorities work with RVAs, with a special focus on three aspects of such assessments that are highlighted in the legislation: vital societal functions, critical dependencies, and capability assessment. The main data collection technique was semi-structured interviews and a total of 25 actors were included and interviewed. The goal was to achieve a good representation of the different actors that perform RVAs. Thus 5 national authorities, 5 county administrative boards, and 15 municipalities were chosen in order to obtain a representative functional distribution (in terms of national authorities responsible for different sectors), geographic distribution as well as size distribution. The study shows that there is rather large variety of approaches, perspectives and views adopted by different actors, all with different advantages and drawbacks. It is argued that the findings of the study can be used to improve the RVA-practices of public authorities.</p>}},
  author       = {{Abrahamsson, Marcus and Eriksson, Kerstin and Hassel, Henrik and Petersen, Kurt and Tehler, Henrik}},
  booktitle    = {{Proceedings of the 4th International Disaster and Risk Conference: Integrative Risk Management in a Changing World - Pathways to a Resilient Society, IDRC Davos 2012}},
  keywords     = {{Capability assessments; Critical dependencies; Risk and vulnerability analysis; Vital societal functions}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{15--18}},
  publisher    = {{Global Risk Forum (GRF)}},
  title        = {{A study of the performance of risk and vulnerability assessments by Swedish Public Agencies}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}